Catherine Coldstream
Oddly I think I saw a monk today.
Oddly I think I saw a monk today.
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Thank you GlitterFluffJust because we like reminiscing and discussing the great and the evil of convent schools and not wishing to de-rail the Jodie Marsh thread
Our school had a Polish order of Nuns - 2 seperate Catholic convent schools had merged, the senior part of the school had originally been a fee paying convent - most of those girls resented us commoners
We only had prayers in English - most of my school mates were Irish and Italian heritage. It was a huge melting pot to be honest - many girls from monied families, and then those where clearly the families must have struggled.
We had some nice teachers (mainly female) that were married, with children. The priests were
's... Scared the crap out of me. It seems the blackboard rubber was the norm then for punishment 
In the main the Nuns scared me - they wasn't kind, they just about tolerated being around young girls. On one site they had a big house where they lived, so they never left.
I attend Mass now when I feel the need to go, not because I have to. 10am Sunday Mass, week in/out - I don't blame my parents, they did what they thought was right. I have 3 sisters - only my youngest sister didn't have a convent education, I think by then my parents had given up
I have faith still, I think what you learn from a young age never leaves you - it did shape me and how I viewed men especially. No learning about female things, only talk of you get married, you have children...
So interesting to read about you other Tattlers - I do swear
, but bloody hell the "c" word makes me laugh, but I can't call someone it. Absolutely ridiculous isn't it. But I agree completely that JM is a total one, and many others on the Tattle site that I dip into. I left school in 1979 - I'm 63 this year - I have some fond memories, but in the main it was rotten. I was glad to leave after 6th form and get a job. I didn't know anyone that went on to Uni - we all got jobs, started earning money.
Sorry for long reply. Has made me think this evening - not bad thoughts, just ones that were part of life back then.
And me..
When we can we visit an island off Pembrokeshire coast that has a silent order - I'm pretty sure they are. I like going there, it's peaceful, but I've read that they have had gits taking up the order that are child abusers.
It still shocks me to read of the Magdalene sisters. So much pain and hurt from religion.
Thank you Stillwater, found it cheaply on ebay.
I like the kitsch a lot. But right enough it can all be a bit mired in gloom and suffering and terrible scandal.
But I saw the value and the comfort when we needed it, the community and the love expressed through it when my Dad was dying.
I happened to accidentally (with the attendant moaning about the extra time on Mass )be at the exposition of the blessed sacrament not so long ago and I did see the beauty of the ceremony.
But I saw the value and the comfort when we needed it, the community and the love expressed through it when my Dad was dying.
I happened to accidentally (with the attendant moaning about the extra time on Mass )be at the exposition of the blessed sacrament not so long ago and I did see the beauty of the ceremony.
I really hate the Catholic Church hate, like I understand there are a lot of terrible people, terrible harms etc but some people just straight up ask ”who did your priest abuse? Were you abused or was it the altar boys” we had some lovely kindly priests who have never been accused (and they’re now dead) all institutions had and have potential to harbour wronguns FFS.
Obviously pretty much all nuns are awful (except Sister Mary and Sister Kath, who were lovely).
Obviously pretty much all nuns are awful (except Sister Mary and Sister Kath, who were lovely).
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Ours was fully private and I think because it was in a 'nice' area of Surrey it attracted lots of local families so although it was Catholic convent, kids weren't sent there purely for that reason - it was just a decent school in leafy Surrey.Thank you GlitterFluff
Our school had a Polish order of Nuns - 2 seperate Catholic convent schools had merged, the senior part of the school had originally been a fee paying convent - most of those girls resented us commoners
We only had prayers in English - most of my school mates were Irish and Italian heritage. It was a huge melting pot to be honest - many girls from monied families, and then those where clearly the families must have struggled.
We had some nice teachers (mainly female) that were married, with children. The priests were
In the main the Nuns scared me - they wasn't kind, they just about tolerated being around young girls. On one site they had a big house where they lived, so they never left.
I attend Mass now when I feel the need to go, not because I have to. 10am Sunday Mass, week in/out - I don't blame my parents, they did what they thought was right. I have 3 sisters - only my youngest sister didn't have a convent education, I think by then my parents had given up
I have faith still, I think what you learn from a young age never leaves you - it did shape me and how I viewed men especially. No learning about female things, only talk of you get married, you have children...
So interesting to read about you other Tattlers - I do swear
I left school in 1979 - I'm 63 this year - I have some fond memories, but in the main it was rotten. I was glad to leave after 6th form and get a job. I didn't know anyone that went on to Uni - we all got jobs, started earning money.
Sorry for long reply. Has made me think this evening - not bad thoughts, just ones that were part of life back then.
I think the prep school was slightly more 'nunny' than the senior school. Our headmistress was a Sister as were a large number of the teachers, albeit there were some more civilian teachers. Sister Julia used to mooch around with her Golden Retrievers (I'm sure one was called Sheba!)
We had a lovely lawn that went down to a river.
I remember lots of religious relics, lots of praying, LOTS of chapel. Chapel was on a Wednesday morning and we had to all trek across in class order. It was a massive deal in prep school if you were being prepped for First Communion (I wasn't because although my dad was Irish Catholic, my mum was Jewish so
)Some of the nuns were savage and clearly hated girls, but I think having the civilian teachers introduced a balance so we weren't all completely terrorised!
There were a few blackboard rubber lobbing incidents but I don't think I'm particularly traumatised by it!
Overall, I have very fond memories of that school. I made friends that I'm still friends with to this day. I am not religious in any way, but I find a weird comfort on the off occasion that I do go to Church. The RC church has done so much harm over the years and continues to do so but I still find a weird peace going into churches
It ended up being our geography teacher who was done for heinous things. This would have been in the early 2000s - he had worked at a boys's school in the 70s and you can work out the rest.
That wasn't at a convent - just a standard girls' school (that allegedly he had moved to in order to avoid temptation
)We have a fair few mixed marriages up here, I know girls who’ve been christened as well as had a bat mitzvahOurs was fully private and I think because it was in a 'nice' area of Surrey it attracted lots of local families so although it was Catholic convent, kids weren't sent there purely for that reason - it was just a decent school in leafy Surrey.
I think the prep school was slightly more 'nunny' than the senior school. Our headmistress was a Sister as were a large number of the teachers, albeit there were some more civilian teachers. Sister Julia used to mooch around with her Golden Retrievers (I'm sure one was called Sheba!)
We had a lovely lawn that went down to a river.
I remember lots of religious relics, lots of praying, LOTS of chapel. Chapel was on a Wednesday morning and we had to all trek across in class order. It was a massive deal in prep school if you were being prepped for First Communion (I wasn't because although my dad was Irish Catholic, my mum was Jewish so
Some of the nuns were savage and clearly hated girls, but I think having the civilian teachers introduces a balance so we weren't all completely terrorised!
There were a few blackboard rubber lobbing incidents but I don't think I'm particularly traumatised by it!
Overall, I have very fond memories of that school. I made friends that I'm still friends with to this day. I am not religious in any way, but I find a weird comfort on the off occasion that I do go to Church. The RC church has done so much harm over the years and continues to do so but I still find a weird peace going into churches
The Church does not deserve its faithful. That’s my perspective on it.
I’m not practising but I can’t shake it entirely. I’m alright with that.
I’m not practising but I can’t shake it entirely. I’m alright with that.
I will never get over this. Such compassion, love and godliness
I never thought to put it like that, but that resonates with me
To quote the prophet Bruce of Springsteen who said he "came to ruefully and bemusedly understand that once you're a Catholic you're always a Catholic ... I don't participate in my religion but I know somewhere... deep inside... I'm still on the team."
@Brian Butterfield
I have just remembered my friend's older sister telling us about Sister Faith!!!! Her sister was about 4 years above us so got to experience the senior school and scare us
I swear I have so much locked up in my brain that slowly comes trickling out
My one act of rebellion was setting off a stink bomb in the music room one year
Did you have the straw boater hats as part of your summer uniform when you were at ND?
I have just remembered my friend's older sister telling us about Sister Faith!!!! Her sister was about 4 years above us so got to experience the senior school and scare us
I swear I have so much locked up in my brain that slowly comes trickling out
My one act of rebellion was setting off a stink bomb in the music room one year
Did you have the straw boater hats as part of your summer uniform when you were at ND?
Oh my goodness yes, this
... I don't practice as a Catholic, but I still am... It's still part of who I am.Your school sounded lovelyOurs was fully private and I think because it was in a 'nice' area of Surrey it attracted lots of local families so although it was Catholic convent, kids weren't sent there purely for that reason - it was just a decent school in leafy Surrey.
I think the prep school was slightly more 'nunny' than the senior school. Our headmistress was a Sister as were a large number of the teachers, albeit there were some more civilian teachers. Sister Julia used to mooch around with her Golden Retrievers (I'm sure one was called Sheba!)
We had a lovely lawn that went down to a river.
I remember lots of religious relics, lots of praying, LOTS of chapel. Chapel was on a Wednesday morning and we had to all trek across in class order. It was a massive deal in prep school if you were being prepped for First Communion (I wasn't because although my dad was Irish Catholic, my mum was Jewish so
Some of the nuns were savage and clearly hated girls, but I think having the civilian teachers introduced a balance so we weren't all completely terrorised!
There were a few blackboard rubber lobbing incidents but I don't think I'm particularly traumatised by it!
Overall, I have very fond memories of that school. I made friends that I'm still friends with to this day. I am not religious in any way, but I find a weird comfort on the off occasion that I do go to Church. The RC church has done so much harm over the years and continues to do so but I still find a weird peace going into churches
... I feel the same in that I don't attend Mass weekly, or regularly but occasionally I'll say to Hubs I need to go light some candles, or just go and sit in a Church. I didn't feel that as a young adult, or in my 30's, 40's etc but I get comfort from the peace, the smell... I find a CofE service more joyful than our Mass. I love the Christmas candlelit services, but still go to our church at Easter.
I feel Catholic always - if I'm asked I'll say
"I'm catholic", and yet I don't live my life through the Church. What a tangled web ....
We turned on the bunsen burners one lunch time - that was as bad as I got@Brian Butterfield
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I have just remembered my friend's older sister telling us about Sister Faith!!!! Her sister was about 4 years above us so got to experience the senior school and scare us
I swear I have so much locked up in my brain that slowly comes trickling out
My one act of rebellion was setting off a stink bomb in the music room one year
Did you have the straw boater hats as part of your summer uniform when you were at ND?
... Silly girl. Someone set off the fire alarm - can't remember the punishment - we all had punishment as no one would admit to it, and no one would dob them in.I will always say I am Catholic. I haven’t been to mass regularly since I left home at 18 (I’m 47).
Even though I fundamentally hate the Catholic Church for all the horrible things it's done, a dark, dark side of me would love to have a Catholic wedding so we can have all the hymns and prayers and suffering and boredom and everyone can experience the hell of my childhood mass experienceYour school sounded lovely
I feel the same in that I don't attend Mass weekly, or regularly but occasionally I'll say to Hubs I need to go light some candles, or just go and sit in a Church. I didn't feel that as a young adult, or in my 30's, 40's etc but I get comfort from the peace, the smell... I find a CofE service more joyful than our Mass. I love the Christmas candlelit services, but still go to our church at Easter.
I feel Catholic always - if I'm asked I'll say
"I'm catholic", and yet I don't live my life through the Church. What a tangled web ....
But I shan't.
I think that school was lovely but it's possible I've romanticised it as it was 30 years since I was there.